KNOWING one’s own identity and purpose helps aspiring bloggers to stand out among the rest, invited speakers for this year’s BlogCon said.

“Dapat kilalanin niyo muna sarili niyo at alamin niyo muna kung ano’ng gusto niyo,” YouTube sensation and best-selling author Ramon Bautista said to blog enthusiasts at TomasinoWeb’s BlogCon 2014 with the theme “Rising above the ordinary” at the Beato Angelico AVR on October 11.

Likewise, artist, travel and fashion blogger Reese Lansangan said bloggers should ask themselves “Why do I do this? Why do I want to blog? What do I want to blog?”

Letterer and lifestyle blogger Abbey Sy said around 100 million bloggers are all over the internet and their goals are to stand out. She advised bloggers to distinguish themselves through “personal branding” or make a name by knowing their capabilities, skills and having a purpose for making blogs.

Director of UST Social Media Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said, in relation to the theme, “blogging is most effective when it levels up and gives rise to free journalistic expression.”

“For a blog to be a meaningful endeavor, it must have weight and depth. It must be substantial. It must be upgraded. It must level up. It must rise above the ordinary,” he added.

Becoming an internet action star

Bautista was dubbed as an “internet action star” because he likes making videos and posting them on the Internet.

He said Internet redefines a person’s identity because people are supposed to show their best. However, he added it’s better to know one’s self first to find out what they want to show people.

“Ako, enjoy ako gumawa ng videos…gusto ko magpasaya ng mga tao,” said Bautista.

Bautista said bloggers should always be obtainable and showing an emotional range. They must also balance the things they write on the internet.

“It is a continuous process, parang gulong lang. You have to be consistent and stick to your gun.”

Don’t blog to impress

Freelance blogger Kisty Mea and Abbey Sy both told the audience to always keep in mind that although bloggers want to increase their readers, they should always blog for themselves and not for impressing their readers.

However, they pointed out that bloggers must make friends with their readers.

“To build a long and lasting relationship, you must engage with your readers,” Mea said. “You must make efforts and have an atmosphere of confidence.”

Meanwhile, Sy said that every blogger should narrow down their target market based on the topics they share on their blogs, helping them stand out.

“On knowing your readers, we all have a purpose or reason why we have to blog. There must be something that you want to share. But you have to stay consistent to capture the readers that you want,” Sy said.

Both bloggers reminded the participants that it’s very important to consider the quality of their blog content over the quantity of blogs they post online.

“You must have good content and be aware of what you post,” Sy said.

Mea said posting regularly and consistently helps increase the number of readers. Sy also said one has to stay driven by being focused and committed in doing what they love.

“Always be creative. You’re a work in progress,” she added.

Authenticity and trusting your taste

Lansangan encouraged the audience to “please” themselves first and post whatever they like to retain the authenticity in their blogs.

     “Parang feeling mo walang makakarelate, pero marami palang nakakarelate,” she added.

     Lifestyle blogger and host Karla Aguas said bloggers should never change how they write, although reading a lot will help define their own writing style.

“Always be yourself and write something that is connected to you,” Aguas said.

Brand ambassadress and endorser, Nicole Andersson also believes in staying true to one’s branding.

“One time, may client ako na i–blog ko raw ‘yung tungkol sa building project or semento, and I’m like ‘Sino ba namang maniniwala na may alam ako sa semento kahit na ibigay nila sa’kin ‘yung information…’ Hindi ako magkukunwari. Hindi ako ‘yan. Hindi ko branding ‘yan… Oo, may malaking perang papasok pero sino ba namang maniniwala sa’kin?”

Advocacy blogger and designer Arriane Serrafico said not all bloggers are writers, so she wants to help find their voice in a “noisy online world”.

“It doesn’t matter what you do pero ang importante doon is what sort of voice does your art have,” she said.

Writing for an online audience

     Writer, publisher and former UST Professor Karren Seña emphasized that “it goes without saying that bloggers should write meaningful content.”

“People are actually tired of OOTDs (Outfit of the Day posts), ‘yung mga ‘eating dinuguan right now…’ So give your readers something that they can carry with them.”

She also said bloggers must keep their posts short and simple. Since people today on the web are scanners, they will most likely skip a thousand-word post.

Seña also advised the bloggers to engage with their audience or at least give them a platform where they could connect.

“People who go online or people who are addicted to social networking sites are actually people who just want to engage in a community.”

Moreover, Faculty of Arts and Letters alumnus and owner of a renowned book blog Archie Camps believes in the “power of choosing what you post” and sense of verification.

“Your credibility is always at stake whenever you post… When you have built your own credibility and became an authority in your field, your followers are going to boom and you will get listened to.”

Student bloggers

     Prominent bloggers who are mostly university students like Vin Quilop, Jeline Catt, Faculty of Arts and Letters students Agnes Obordo, Lara Murallos and Ciara Mendoza also participated in a panel discussion.

Catt, a digital style publisher, talked about her confidence in “just doing” what you want to do and blogging as a powerful tool.

“When you do something, you have to give it your best… In the end, it’s really worth it,” she said. “Blogs are great tools that will help you pave your way to something that you want to be.”

Quilop, a digital artist and blogger, advised fledgling artists to not focus too much on having a style and on how they want their art to be recognized as.

“When you start, wala ka pang style e… Usually, people start with portraits and copying, until they explore, experiment and find their own styles. Don’t be afraid to experiment in art.”

Starting a blog

Bautista said aspiring bloggers must be prepared and undergo research before starting a blog.

“Minsan tira lang tayo ng tira. Dapat tayong magprepare sa gagawin natin. Mag-aral ng bago, mag-review ng luma,” he said.

Meanwhile, Serrafico recommended bloggers, especially first-timers to not start with a personal brand in mind but focus on content.

She said, “First-time bloggers should put content regularly for three months before taking it seriously. Those first three months will test your commitment and it will also start to show ‘you…’ instead of focusing on your brand, focus on your dream content.”

TomasinoWeb launched its first BlogCon on September 21 last year, encouraging student bloggers and enthusiasts to rethink and re-evaluate blogging.

Photos by Joshua Lugti, Bria Cardenas and Innah Pardinan